Our View: Free Fun Friday is a time to shine

Wednesday

Jul 23, 2014 at 6:30 PM

It's a big week along Fall River's waterfront. In what has become an annual event to showcase Fall River's attractions to visitors and residents alike, Free Fun Friday is a day where Fall River gets to put its best foot forward.

Herald News Editorial Board

It’s a big week along Fall River’s waterfront. In what has become an annual event to showcase Fall River’s attractions to visitors and residents alike, Free Fun Friday is a day where Fall River gets to put its best foot forward.

As the name implies, free admission is being offered this Friday to Battleship Cove, the city’s premier attraction. It’s the third year in a row the Battleship is participating in this program, thanks to a grant from the Highland Street Foundation. It’s one of 166 attractions throughout Massachusetts where free admission is being offered on certain Fridays throughout the summer. Battleship Cove — normally $17 per adult — will be offering free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

With good weather forecast for Friday, the event is expected to draw 10,000 visitors to the city. The first year Free Fun Friday was offered at the Battleship, it drew 8,000 visitors. Unfortunately, Mother Nature was not very cooperative last year, with heavy rains keeping a lot of visitors away. Still, 3,000 people took advantage of the opportunity to explore the world’s largest collection of warships for free.

Once again, the nearby attractions, the nearby Marine Museum and the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River will be offering half-price admission. The Children’s Museum will be handing out half-off admission coupons at the tourism booth at Battleship Cove, which will highlight all the attractions the city has to offer. While visitors are also encouraged to dine at the city’s many restaurants, there will be food sold right at Battleship Cove by another classic city establishment: Al Mac’s Diner.

The event also coincides with the opening today of The Cove Restaurant, on the site of the former Regatta. Construction of the gorgeous restaurant, offering spectacular up-close views of the battleship, the Braga Bridge and the waterfront, has been under way since January 2013. The Cove, offering American cuisine, seafood and steaks, seats 200, with an outdoor deck that seats another 100 diners.

The Cove will eventually be part of a marina with 44 slips and facilities for boaters, with a dock for boaters who want to stop to have dinner at the restaurant. Although the construction along Davol Street makes accessing the restaurant a bit tricky, the state is expected to wrap up the road work in front of the restaurant today, and the city has offered the nearby City Pier for restaurant parking with valet service. But don’t just stop by, since reservations are required this weekend.

It looks like both the city and state are doing their part to give visitors a positive impression of the city and its waterfront. Although visitors may have to “pardon the dust” from the construction, city crews have been busy cleaning up the area. Despite the significant road construction in the area as part of the Route 79 project that can make the waterfront area confusing to navigate, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will try to minimize the effects on what is expected to be a heavy traffic day with motorists who may be unfamiliar with the area. In fact, Battleship Cove Marketing Director Cristoff Shay sees the detours as a positive. “It brings all the traffic right to our door,” he said.

To further ease the congestion and parking crunch in the area, the city will be running its two trolleys and a handicapped-accessible bus to the battleship. It’s great to see all parties working together to help Fall River’s waterfront shine.